10 DIY Procedures Pet Owners Should Learn How to Perform at Home

Being a pet owner means being able to get your hands dirty — even if it’s just a wee bit. After all, every single one of us is responsible for our pets’ basic maintenance, including everything from feeding, bathing and brushing to exercising, toenail trimming and even doing dental duty.

But wait! That’s not all.

Along with a more modern conception of responsible ownership comes the requirement that we, as their caretakers, expand our definition of what’s considered “basic care.” Which is why pet owners are increasingly being expected to perform tasks that may once have been relegated to practitioners of the veterinary arts alone.

Consider the following additions to your at-home pet-care repertoire:

1. Remove and save parasites.

Everything from fleas and ticks to tapeworms and other nasties should be removed and, if identification is an issue, collected for analysis so we can tailor treatment to your pet’s parasitic infestations.

2. Collect bodily “fluids.”

Urine and stool are the basic “fluids” we might ask you to collect for us, but it’s not unheard of that we would ask you to bring in samples of sputum and vomitus, too (for example).

It’s yucky, I know, but here’s where I tell you to “get over it” for your pet’s sake. And consider yourself lucky if it’s just the occasional poop, pee and spit-up. After all, if it’s your lot to end up with a diabetic pet, routine blood collection might even be on your menu.

3. Take photos and films.

Sometimes it’s hard to collect stuff — if not because it’s gross, then because sometimes it’s uncollectable (think: too soft to scoop). Then there’s the need to document the intermittent limp, the occasional cough, the strange sneezeand the bizarre behavior that simply can't be reproduced in the veterinary office. There’s nothing like knowing how to get a good video to endear you to your veterinarian.

4. Groom.

For plenty of pets, it’s not just about the simple snip and clip every four to 12 weeks. Some pets require more frequent ministrations (especially around the exits), which often involve the need for owners to learn how to wield clippers and wipes with near-professional aplomb.

5. Brush and floss.

Yes,all pets benefit from brushing, andsome pets do require the occasional floss. Dogs with lots of dental crowding (especially common among dwarfed breeds) benefit most from this addition to their dental detail. Luckily, there are some cool new tools to help make this happen more efficiently.

6. Cook.

This is an increasingly common requirement for pets suffering from specific conditions for which treatment may be optimized by employing highly customized diets.But don't trust that any diet you find online will be nutritionally balanced.Nutrition services like the one at the University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine work with both veterinarians and their clients to devise recipes tailored to each pet’s unique health care needs.

7. Manage ears and skin folds.

Short-headed breeds of dogs and cats are especially prone to the kinds of issues that necessitate skin fold management, but any pet can be prone to ear and skin fold issues, especially those who suffer from food allergies. Learning how to properly manage ears and folds with solutions, salves and manual dexterity is crucial to many a pet’s basic welfare.